The Des Moines Council approved May 8 an agreement with the Port of Seattle for development of the Des Moines Creek Business Park.

In the agreement, the port pays for development company Majestic Realty Co. to make street improvements on 24th Avenue South and South 216th St. in Des Moines. The improvements will cost $3,8 million.

Port commissioners will consider the agreement next month.

"This is a project that our goal will be a win-win- win for the community, the airport and for us," said Ed Konjoyan, Majestic vice president.

Des Moines and the port entered the first agreement to develop the business park on July 11, 2005.

In other business, it was announced that Ralph Nichols, former associate editor of the Times/News, has been hired by the city on a part-time basis as a public information officer.